BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Why Anelka is boo-boys' target

Nicolas Anelka can expect a hostile reaction on Tuesday evening as he returns to Arsenal to face his old club with Manchester City.

But how does a footballer turn so spectacularly from a hero into a vilified villain?

Facts and figures: Anelka's career

Success

To be truly loathed by a team's fans, you need to be loved first.

Robert Pires has already left a message and Sylvain Wiltord is sure to phone me

Nicolas Anelka

Anelka's youthful energy, coupled with his cool finishes were crucial in Arsenal's Double of 1998.

Stepping in for the injured Ian Wright, he scored vital goals for a Gunners side deprived of their leading striker, and became the scourge of Premiership defences.

Had he been a north London flop, no one would have cared about his departure or his subsequent returns.

Replacing a hero

To say Ian Wright was popular at Arsenal is a bit like saying Manchester United fans are "quite fond" of Eric Cantona.

Acolytes felt Wrighty almost sweated gunpowder, such was his affinity with the club.

Ian Wright in action for Arsenal
Ian Wright was a hero at Highbury

He was approaching the end of his career as Anelka arrived, but following in his ebullient footsteps was always going to be a tough task.

Anelka's ability to supply the goals endeared him to the faithful at first - but his attitude caused fans to suspect he would rather listen to hip-hop and sulk than pull on the red shirt.

This introverted persona ensured Anelka was never going to win hearts in the manner of the extroverted Wright.

Drawn-out departure

Anelka's exit was one of the most protracted sagas in British football history, the rumours beginning months before his August 1999 transfer to Real Madrid.

The gossip-hungry media loved the stories of his brothers making big demands for their star sibling and Anelka's agent Marc Roger ensured the story received plenty of coverage.

Had he quickly severed his Highbury ties, the wound may have healed - but knowledge that their club is paying the (big) wages of a want-away striker rankles with supporters.

There was a silver lining for the fans, though.

Arsenal made a cool �22.5m profit on their star - money which undoubtedly helped lay the foundations for their subsequent success.

The cash helped them snare a certain Thierry Henry - and few Gunners' fans would swap him for Anelka now.

Being good

A chorus of boos from the opposition fans is, in some ways, the ultimate backhanded compliment.

Highbury fans know full well the danger posed by Anelka, and will try their best to put him off his game.

If he was a toe-poking carthorse, then his Highbury return would be greeted with mild amusement rather than bile.

Healing the rift

Football crowds have never been the most reasonable of beasts, and will not give Anelka a sympathetic ear.

But Anelka has matured since his Arsenal days, and he insists he is looking forward to saying hello to his friends at Highbury on Tuesday night.

Match preview: Arsenal v Man City

"Robert Pires has already left a message and Sylvain Wiltord is sure to phone me," he says.

Admittedly two friends will not offset the 40,000 enemies, but it is a start.

All he needs to do now is miss about 25 open goals in succession, and he could well find himself a Highbury hero again.


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